Receptacle holder



Nov. 21, 1939. .1. s. MAHAN RECEPTACLE HOLDER Filed Jan. 21, 1938 fizz/6712 James ji'eelj czarz 1 [2.

Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 This invention relates to electrical receptacle holders more particularly for mounting switch or outlet boxes which have a porcelain receptacle.

The use of porcelain receptacles for this pur pose is increasing but difficulties have been encountered in mounting the porcelain member and if mounted before the rough construction work of a new building for example, is completed, the porcelain is likely to be broken. 7

The present invention aims to provide a simple and inexpensive holder which may be struck out of sheet metal in large quantities and which can be secured to the lath or other support, adapt ing itself to variations in the size of the opening between the laths, and into which the porcelain receptacle may later be readily inserted and snapped into place, the holder also desirably providing mounting ears for the face plate of the switching device, for example, and also for the switch itself.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a view, partly in section, showing a wall opening and a porcelain receptacle mounted therein by means of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a perspective separated view of the holder of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown in the drawing, the holder H], which it will be readily understood may be integrally struck out of a fiat piece of sheet metal, is desirably bent generally U-shape to form in this instance a base portion II and a plurality of transversely related pairs of arms I 2 and I3 extending from the base portion II from the same side thereof and defining a box-like structure.

The base portion II as here shown is advantageously cruciform, having the relatively longer and wider part I4 which extends in one direction and having on opposite sides the relatively shorter and narrower rectangular parts l5 which are transversely related medially of the part M. It will be observed that the arms l3 are thereafter right-angularly bent continuations of the base part I4, and arms 12 are similar continuations of the parts [5.

In accordance with the present invention, the arms l3 are desirably bifurcated as at 5 as by having the central portion of the arms I3 struck out to form still a third pair of arms H. The bifurcations [6 are desirably joined together at their extremities by the cross portions l8 which are bent outwardly to provide mounting flanges for the holder Ill as a whole, the perforations l9 ly received between the base portion I4 receiving screws 20 or the like which pierce the lath sections 2| on each side of the opening 22. between these lath sections in which it is desired to mount the device, as indicated in Fig. 1. The composite arms l3, l6 desirably are V-shape or taper broadeningly toward their free ends.

By reason of the construction just described, the device provides extensible mounting means in that the arms l6 may be flexed or bent outwardly from the plane of the portions 13 of these arms to provide an integral attaching strap also V-shape when in use whereby the size of said V may be varied to accommodate variations in the size of the opening 22, whereas the struckout arms or tongues I! may lie normally in the plane of the portions [3. Thus the arms l6 may be bifurcated also with relation to arms 17. The extremities of these arms I! are desirably bent inwardly as at 23 to form a clamping means for the porcelain receptacle 24 next described.

20 At any time before or after but desirably sometime subsequent to the mounting of the holder [0 in the wall by means of screws 20 as already described, the porcelain receptacle 24 may be readily inserted in the holder by temporarily flexing back the arms I! so as to permit the lugs 23 to pass about the receptacle and resiliently grip its front edge 25, at which time the receptacle is thus retained in position between the arms 12 and I3 and IT. The outer ends of the arms l2 are desirably flared outwardly as at 26 to cause these arms to act as a spring clip into which the receptacle is pressed. It will be understood that the dimensions of the receptacle in length and width are such as to cause the receptacle to be snugly received between the arms, and that the depth of the receptacle is such that it is snugof the holder and the lugs 23 of the arms ll.

The wall in which the receptacle and holder 40 are mounted may be finished by applying a plaster 2'! or the like on the laths 2!, this plaster terminating short of the screws 20, leaving an enlarged opening in the wall which may be closed by the face plate 28. The switch mechanism or 45 other circuit continuing device is indicated generally at lllll, ears Hll being aligned with ears 3| I and screws I02 clamping the parts together by this arm. Screws 29 may then fasten the face 55 plate to the switch mechanism as by being received in perforations 13 therein.

Apertures 32 in the face plate may pass therethrough the usual switch operating buttons or the like for the switch mechanism Hill, for example, the manner in which the switch mechanism or the like is received in the receptacle being well known to the art.

By ready modification which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, from the description here given, the holder could be arranged to receive a circular or octagonal receptacle such as an outlet box to be mounted in the ceiling or the like.

Such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the following claims without departing from the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A receptacle holder of the class described embodying a flexible metallic U-shaped member having a base portion and a pair of arms adapted to clamp a receptacle therebetween, said holder embodying an integral flexible attaching strap formed by extensions of said arms extending outwardly of the clamping portion, said extensions being jointly V-shape when in use and adjustable substantially independently of the clamping portions of said arms toward and away from said receptacle and having fastener formations at the ends thereof whereby said holder may be mounted by said strap in wall openings of varying sizes without substantially disturbing the clamping portions of said arms.

2. A receptacle holder of the class described embodying a flexible metallic U-shaped member having a base portion and a pair of arms adapted to clamp a receptacle therebetween, said holder embodying an integral flexible attaching strap formed by extensions of said arms extending outwardly of the clamping portion, said extensions being jointly V-shape when in use and being also individually V-shape and adjustable substantially independently of the clamping portions of said arms toward and away from said receptacle and having fastener formations at the ends thereof whereby said holder may be mounted by said strap in wall openings of varying sizes without substantially disturbing the clamping portions of said arms.

3. A receptacle holder of the class described embodying a flexible metallic member bent to form a base portion and a pair of arms adapted to clamp a receptacle therebetween, each of said arms being bifurcated to form a clamping portion and a mounting portion, said latter portion comprising a pair of integral flexible extensions on each side of the clamping portion of the arm adjustable substantially independently of the clamping portion toward and away from said receptacle whereby said holder may be mounted in wall openings of varying sizes and the receptacle may be clamped therein without disturbing said mounting, an integral cross member connecting the ends of the extensions of each arm respectively, and fastener formations in said cross members.

JAMES STEEL MAI-IAN. 

